Mom Veronica Antonelli recounts her surprise at hearing Jannik Sinner’s live compliments to Kimi Antonelli following his victory at the Chinese Grand Prix.
While father Marco is the technical and sporting soul behind Kimi Antonelli, mother Veronica is the young Mercedes driver’s safe harbor, the person who tries to maintain balance between her son’s meteoric career and a normal life. In recent days, the 19-year-old Emilia-born driver’s media exposure has reached its peak following his victory in China — the first of his Formula 1 career, and the first for an Italian 20 years after Giancarlo Fisichella. “For everyone, Kimi has become a Formula 1 Grand Prix winner, but for me he remains my son Andrea, Andy as we call him in the family,” explains his mother.
“Nothing changes with this success, but what makes me happiest is that it has certainly relieved some pressure after a challenging year, especially when midway through the season he faced a lot of criticism,” says Veronica, before clarifying what really matters to her: “I have never cared about him being a driver. I want him to achieve all his dreams, but that isn’t what makes me proud. For me, the greatest pride comes when people tell me I have a son who is polite, kind, and has a good heart. That is what matters.”
Kimi Antonelli’s mother on Jannik Sinner’s speech: “I never expected it”
On Sunday evening, just hours after Antonelli’s triumph in Shanghai, Kimi received live praise from Jannik Sinner during his award ceremony after winning the Indian Wells tournament. Something that truly touched Veronica: “I never expected it. When I read it, I couldn’t believe it. A gesture of sincere affection, and it’s a beautiful image of these young, determined Italian athletes.”
Veronica Antonelli doesn’t watch GPs on TV: “I lock myself in a room and follow live timing”
The Bologna-born driver’s mother has her own way of following her son’s races, not on TV: “Sunday I did as I always do,” she tells Gazzetta dello Sport. “I lock myself in a room alone, follow the live timing, and don’t watch the broadcast. I like following the GP through the lap times; I’ve done it like this ever since Andrea was little and racing karts. My daughter Maggie, however, likes to watch the race on TV, but she muted it so I wouldn’t hear anything. We watched the last lap together, and when we saw him cry, we burst into tears as well. I had never seen my son sob like that; I think it was truly liberating. What amazes me is knowing that half of Italy was moved along with us.”
The story of Kimi Antonelli’s first win is as much about family resilience as it is about sporting excellence. By staying grounded in the values of humility and hard work, “Andy” has not only conquered the Shanghai circuit but also the hearts of fans across the globe. As he prepares for the next challenge at Suzuka, he does so knowing his greatest supporters are cheering for the person behind the helmet, not just the driver on the screen.
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